BRITS have been warned about a spate of tempting emails landing in their inboxes purporting to come from Asda.
This latest scam has seen a surge in reports to police over the last two weeks.
Action Fraud says it’s been alerted to more than 1,700 of them.
And clicking on any links could lead to a devastating raid on your bank accounts.
The dubious emails claim to offer Asda customers a free prize in exchange for completing a survey.
This freebie is a 36 piece Tupperware set which would normally cost several hundred pounds.
And to trick people into acting without thinking, the email tells users they need do the survey before the time runs out – a common tactic deployed by scammers.
There’s a particular three set of words to look out for to instantly spot these sorts of emails, and they are “you’ve been chosen” which normally appears at the top.
Another key detail to look out for with any communication like this is the email address – does it come from the official company website or is some obscure address shown?
“Action Fraud has received 1,754 reports in two weeks relating to fake emails purporting to be from Asda,” Action Fraud wrote on X.
“The links in the emails lead to phishing websites that are designed to steal person and financial information.”
Users are advised not to use the addresses or contact numbers in the email if they are in doubt.
The best thing to do is forward it onto [email protected] to be investigated by experts.
You can then delete it for good.
Asda has previously warned about scams using its brand, saying: “There are a number of messages circulating by text messages and emails that are nothing to do with us and may be an attempt to capture your personal details.
“Recent messages include supermarket voucher giveaways, prize draws, reminders to collect a package and money off promotions.
“Please always read a message carefully before clicking on it and check the link before you enter your details.
“An official Asda competition or giveaway should link to an Asda website such as asda.com or george.com.
“Spelling mistakes or grammatical errors are also clues that a post could be a fake.”
How to protect yourself from scams
BY keeping these tips in mind, you can avoid getting caught up in a scam:
- Firstly, remember that if something seems too good to be true, it normally is.
- Check brands are “verified” on Facebook and Twitter pages – this means the company will have a blue tick on its profile.
- Look for grammatical and spelling errors; fraudsters are notoriously bad at writing proper English. If you receive a message from a “friend” informing you of a freebie, consider whether it’s written in your friend’s normal style.
- If you’re invited to click on a URL, hover over the link to see the address it will take you to – does it look genuine?
- To be on the really safe side, don’t click on unsolicited links in messages, even if they appear to come from a trusted contact.
- Be careful when opening email attachments too. Fraudsters are increasingly attaching files, usually PDFs or spreadsheets, which contain dangerous malware.
- If you receive a suspicious message then report it to the company, block the sender and delete it.
- If you think you’ve fallen for a scam, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or use its online fraud reporting tool.
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Source Link: https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/28470417/gmail-outlook-fake-asda-free-prize-report-delete-email/amp/
GMAIL – Gmail & Outlook users must look out for fake Asda email containing three words as police investigate surge of reports – “gmail” – Google News – #GMAIL
BRITS have been warned about a spate of tempting emails landing in their inboxes…
Gmail & Outlook users must look out for fake Asda email containing three words as police investigate surge of reports – “gmail” – Google News
BRITS have been warned about a spate of tempting emails landing in their inboxes purporting to come…
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